The Sensational Twist in Wheel of Time Season 2 Sparks Red-Hot Villain Speculation

The significant revelation regarding Logain in the season 2 trailer of The Wheel of Time reinforces the major theory surrounding the show's antagonists. While the trailer showcased several notable developments, the brief exchange between Rand and Logain stood out above all else. In the trailer, Rand is seen expressing his desire to learn how to control something.

It is worth noting that up until this point, Rand and Logain have not actually met. They have only caught glimpses of each other from a distance while they were both in Tar Valon. However, this teaser indicates that their storylines are about to intersect in an astonishing manner. Rand's request to Logain is an artistic addition to the TV series, potentially having significant consequences for Logain's storyline in The Wheel of Time, particularly since their paths didn't converge until much later in the original books. This revelation also has implications for the show's treatment of the Forsaken, who make up the majority of the primary villains in the book series.

3 Wheel Of Time Is Setting Up Logain To Take Asmodean’s Place

Following the release of the Wheel of Time season 2 trailer, it appears that Logain is poised to assume a prominent role in Rand's story, potentially overshadowing another character. In the fourth book, The Shadow Rising, Rand encountered Jasin Natael, an influential male channeler who was later revealed to be Asmodean in disguise. Asmodean, one of the Forsaken, a group of immortal channelers devoted to the Dark One, was typically seen as a menacing adversary to the main characters. However, Rand saw value in Asmodean and decided to spare him, recognizing the potential for him to be a valuable teacher in mastering the One Power.

Despite Asmodean's inherent wickedness, Rand's choice was logical. Due to the scarcity of male channelers and the impossibility of a woman instructing a man in the art of channeling, Rand lacked a qualified mentor. Most of his knowledge came from personal experiences and intuition. Believing that access to a skilled male channeler like Asmodean would greatly enhance his control over saidin, Rand made the decision to learn from him, temporarily aligning with this villain as the Dragon Reborn. This intriguing storyline may now take a different turn in the show, with Logain's introduction altering Rand's path.

2 How Cutting Asmodean Would Connect To A Season 1 Forsaken Tease

In the source material, Rand eventually had Logain as an ally, but not at such an early stage in the series. However, when Rand did enlist Logain's help, it was not in the role of a teacher, as Rand had already learned the ways of the One Power from Asmodean. The situation could be reversed for the show with regards to Rand and Asmodean. If there is no need to give Asmodean this particular role, his storyline in Amazon's interpretation will be completely different. Theoretically, the show could still depict him as a villain, but without his significant contribution to the overall narrative, his character may not be essential and could potentially be removed entirely.

The possibility of Wheel of Time omitting Asmodean from the equation aligns with a detail from the show's fifth episode. During Stepin and Lan's conversation that initially introduced the Forsaken, a collection of statues was used to represent the villains. Interestingly, only eight statues were observed on the table. What stands out is that Wheel of Time mythology includes 13 Forsaken: Asmodean, Balthamel, Aginor, Ishamael, Lanfear, Sammael, Rahvin, Moghedien, Graendal, Semirhage, Mesaana, Be'lal, and Demandred. The deliberate inclusion of only eight statues, instead of the expected 13, has led to speculation that the series may have silently altered the number of Forsaken.

Considering the significance of the Forsaken in the Dragon Reborn saga, removing even just five of them would deviate significantly from the original narrative. However, this change was not entirely unexpected. Jordan's books featured 13 Forsaken, which made sense for a series with 14 installments. But since Amazon's show is not expected to run as long, it wouldn't be surprising if certain villains were removed to condense the Dragon Reborn's story.

Having eight Forsaken as season-long threats may be more suitable for the show. If they were to stick with 13, some Forsaken would have reduced roles, or there could be an overcrowding of villains. Considering these factors, it is plausible that The Wheel of Time will cut five members of the Forsaken, and Logain's involvement in Asmodean's main storyline adds to this likelihood.

1 Which Members Of The Forsaken Would Wheel Of Time Cut?

The possibility of The Wheel of Time losing five of its villains naturally raises questions about their identities. The statues in episode 5 have been compared to specific Forsaken in the books, but definitively identifying them is difficult. Of the remaining 11, any five of them could potentially be cut, as nothing about their TV counterparts has been confirmed yet.

While a few villains are safe, others are more important and have a good chance of appearing. Demandred, Mesaana, and Rahvin are among the eight that could be kept. Additionally, multiple statues were clearly female, suggesting that Graendal, Semirhage, or Moghedian may be removed from the show, but at least one of the three will likely be featured. The most obvious candidates for exclusion are Balthamel and Aginor, who were introduced and killed off in The Eye of the World's ending. Since the show already adapted that battle in season 1 without either villain appearing, they could account for two of the five Forsaken who might be cut.